Floating fish enclosure

ABSTRACT

A plurality of porous enclosures are provided to segregate groups of fish for testing and commercial purposes. The enclosure mesh is small enough to retain the fish, yet large enough to permit water flow. The enclosures are arranged circle fashion about a central shaft imbedded in the pond floor, and held in place between two concentric rings by a shaped support frame engaged at either end by the rings. A rotational sleeve sits about the shaft and is joined to the rings by spoke-like members, and flotation elements are provided for the ring-sleeve structure. The assembly is regularly rotated around the shaft, so that the fish within the different enclosures are kept segregated yet exposed to the same environment.

United States Patent [151 3,691,994 McPherson 1 Sept. 19, 1972 FLOATINGFISH ENCLOSURE Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery 72 Inventor: Bill N.McPherson, Littleton, Mass. News [73] Assignee: Aqua-Genetics lnc.,Concord, Mass. [57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 6, 1971 A plurality ofporous enclosures are provided to 211 App] 0 7 7 segregate groups of'fish for testing and commercial purposes. The enclosure mesh is smallenough to retain the fish, yet large enough to permit water flow. [52]U.S.Cl. ..119/3 The enclosures are arranged circle fashion about a [51]1131. C'- ..A01k 61/00 central shaft imbedded in the pond floor, andheld in [58] Field of Search ..l [9/3, 5,2, 1 place between twoconcentric rings by a Shaped port frame engaged at either end by therings. A rota- [56] References n tional sleeve sits about the shaft andis joined to the UNITED STATES PATENTS rings by spoke-like members, andflotation elements are provided for the ring-sleeve structure. The as-3,240,l86 3/ 1966 Dobell ..119/1 sembly i regularly rotatedaround theshaft so that 3,402,506 9/ 1968 Renfro ..119/3 X the fish within thedifferent enclosures are kept 3,473,509 10/ I969 M iyamura ..119/2Segregated yet exposed to the same environment 3,566,839 3/1971 l-lllble..l 19/3 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBsEP 19 I972 SHEET 1 (IF 2ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP I 9 I972 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR WlLLl AM N.McPHERSON BY azwsya FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS FLOATING FISH ENCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDomestically hatched fish may be left in controlled l hatching troughsfor initial development, but after a period of time, which for catfishis usually about a fortnight, must be transferred to an outdoor pond forcontinued survival. A considerable problem is encountered in adequatelysegretating groups of fish once they are transferred to the pond,although segregation is essential for various research, nutritionaltesting and pedigree development programs as well as for commercialpurposes. The usual method has been to separate the different groupsinto a number of porous dumstertype cages immersed in a line along theside of the pond. Physical segregation is thereby achieved, but eachcage is subject to a somewhat different aquatic environment in terms ofsunlight, plant life, oxygen level, etc. owing to their separatelocations. The effect has been to introduce an element of uncertaintyinto testing programs and commercial procedures, leaving doubt as towhether differences among fish groups stem from controlled parameterinputs of from uncontrolled environmental influences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has an over-all objectthe provision of fish enclosures that will simultaneously segregatedifferent groups of fish yet prevent'disruptive environmentaldifferences. In the accomplishment of this and other more specificobjects that will become apparent from a reading of the specification, aplurality of wire mesh fish cages are provided from mesh large enough topermit the easy passage of water, yet small enough to retain the fishtherein. The cages are attached to shaped frames, which in turn aresupported between two concentric rings. The rings are maintained in aposition about a central shaft by connecting spokelike cross armsradiating out from a sleeve rotationally fitted onto the shaft.Flotation blocks are placed under the cross arms to keep the rings andcages up. Significant environmental differences are eliminated byrotating the rings and hence the cages around the shaft several times aday.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of the improved fishenclosure system of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a fish cage and frame engaged in asection of the support structure of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION arms 18 which may be 2 inchgalvanized pipe-radiate outwardly from the sleeve 16 and are welded toan inner ring 20 and an outer concentric ring 22. Struts 24 between thesleeve 16 and the cross arms 18 are provided for additional support.Typical diameters for the inner ring 20 and outer ring 22 arerespectively feet and feet. The ring and sleeve assembly is cut intoquarter sections to facilitate transport, and each-section is providedwith flange and bolt devices 26 for rejoining at the fish pond. Therings should be coated with a rust inhibiting paint toprolong theiruseful lives.-

Referring now to FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment both rings 20 and 22are geometrically similar, differing only in over all dimension. Eachhas a flat horizontal base 28 and avertical flange 30 arising from thecentral portion thereof. In cross-section the rings would appear as aninverted T. Radially aligned slots 32 are provided in the upper, portionof the flanges 30. A plurality of wire mesh fish cages 34 are eachmounted on rigid trapezoidal frames-having two long side bars 36 and twoparallel side bars 38 by means of a plurality of wire loops 40 passingthrough the top of the mesh and over the bars. The long side bars 36extend beyond the parallel side bars 38 at each end, whereby theextended portions 42 may be inserted into the slots 32 and the framessupported between the concentric rings 20 and 22. In a preferredembodiment provision is made for 24 cages, a number that is highlydesirable for purposes of statistical computation, but of course thestructure may be designed for a different number of cages.

mercially available tar compound or the like. The mesh must be smallenough to prevent escape of fish within, yet large enough to permitwater flow through the cage without excessive resistance. /8 inch meshhas been used successfully for catfish fry, and A inch mesh ispermissible for catfish fingerlings. To avoid transferring growing fishfrom one cage to another a large mesh can be used with removable smallmesh screens placed inside. The sides of the cage 34 are formed from acontinuous piece of mesh bent to fit the frame, with a separate bottompiece 44. All ragged edges such as the bottom edge of the side portion46 are kept on the outside of the cage 34 to avoid damage to the fishtherein, and the bottom piece 44 overlaps the sides on the outside. Thecages may be provided with lids to discourage predators and retain thefish should they dip under water. The lids should also be wire mesh,which transmits sunshine and offers little wind resistance.

In operation each fish cage 34 is mounted between the rings 20 and 22and stocked with a particular group of fish to be segregated. Styrofoamblocks 48 are placed under the cross arms 18 to lift the tops of thecages above the surface. A collar 50 affixed to the vertical shaft 10below the sleeve 16 keeps the cages off the pond floor 14 during periodsof drainage. The cage and ring assembly is slowly rotated around thevertical shaft 10, either manually or with machine aid, at the rate ofseveral revolutions a day. The fish in the various cages are therebyexposed to the same ambient conditions, eliminating the uncertaintycaused by environmental factors entering into test results and enhancingthe chances of producing a uniform commercial product.

Various modifications on the invention as described above will nowbecome apparent to one skilled in the art, such aschanges in the ringdesign or means for supporting the fish cages thereon. Accordingly,although generic terms have been used, they are meant in an illustrativesense, and no limitation is intended other than in terms of the appendedclaims.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for housing segregated groups of fish in a fishpond, comprising a plurality of water permeable fish enclosurescircumscribing a central member, said central member immoveably imbeddedin the floor of said fish pond and extending upwardly therefrom, meansrotatable about said central member having means for detachably engagingsaid enclosures, and floatation means associated with said rotatablemeans.

2. Apparatus for housing segregated groups of fish in a fish pond,comprising a plurality of water permeable fish enclosures circumscribinga central vertical shaft, said shaft immoveably imbedded inthe floor ofsaid fish pond and extending upwardly therefrom, a sleeve girding aportion of said shaft and rotatable thereabout, a laterally spaced pairof rigid concentric rings held in fixed relationship to said sleeve andcircumscribing said shaft, a frame associated with each of saidenclosures,

. said frames positioned between said concentric rings and detachablyengaged thereto, means associated with 1 each of said frames for holdingsaid associated enclosures, and floatation means associated with saidconcentric ring assembly.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2, wherein each of said concentricrings is comprised of a flat base having an upward tending flange with aplurality of slots in the upper portion of said flange, and wherein armsextend from each of said frames adapted for positioning within saidslots. I I

4. A structure for holding a plurality of fish enclosures in a fishpond, comprising a vertical central shaft immoveably imbedded in thefloor of said fish pond and extending upwardly therefrom, a sleevegirding a portion of said shaft and rotatable thereabout, a spoked wheelhaving an inner rim and an outer rim, said spokes converging upon andjoined to said sleeve, said inner and outer rims having support meansfor holding a plurality of water permeable fish enclosures between saidrims and said supports and floatation means associated with said wheel.

1. Apparatus for housing segregated gRoups of fish in a fish pond,comprising a plurality of water permeable fish enclosures circumscribinga central member, said central member immoveably imbedded in the floorof said fish pond and extending upwardly therefrom, means rotatableabout said central member having means for detachably engaging saidenclosures, and floatation means associated with said rotatable means.2. Apparatus for housing segregated groups of fish in a fish pond,comprising a plurality of water permeable fish enclosures circumscribinga central vertical shaft, said shaft immoveably imbedded in the floor ofsaid fish pond and extending upwardly therefrom, a sleeve girding aportion of said shaft and rotatable thereabout, a laterally spaced pairof rigid concentric rings held in fixed relationship to said sleeve andcircumscribing said shaft, a frame associated with each of saidenclosures, said frames positioned between said concentric rings anddetachably engaged thereto, means associated with each of said framesfor holding said associated enclosures, and floatation means associatedwith said concentric ring assembly.
 3. The apparatus described in claim2, wherein each of said concentric rings is comprised of a flat basehaving an upward tending flange with a plurality of slots in the upperportion of said flange, and wherein arms extend from each of said framesadapted for positioning within said slots.
 4. A structure for holding aplurality of fish enclosures in a fish pond, comprising a verticalcentral shaft immoveably imbedded in the floor of said fish pond andextending upwardly therefrom, a sleeve girding a portion of said shaftand rotatable thereabout, a spoked wheel having an inner rim and anouter rim, said spokes converging upon and joined to said sleeve, saidinner and outer rims having support means for holding a plurality ofwater permeable fish enclosures between said rims and said supports andfloatation means associated with said wheel.